Foldable box



Sept. 3, 1929. H. s. scHoLEs FOLDABLE BOX Filed Sept. l5. 1928 I BY A TTORNEY Patented Sept. 3, 1929.

UNITED STATES HOWARD s. laerienne, or PROVIDENCE, :arroDE ISLAND.

FOLDABLE BOX.

Application mea september 15, 192s. serial No. 306,155.

This invention relates to boxes formed of i paper, cardboard and of other foldable material and particularly to a foldable box, formed of two telescoping sections.

.An object of my present invention is `to provide a box section forming the lower or upper half of abox, preferably of paper,

with improved forms of folded end and side wall portions to reinforce the walls, the same being provided with means for interlocking one with theother to secure the wall extensions in folded position.

Another objectlof the. invention is to provide a foldable box section adapted for shipment in flat form and adapted to be'readily Iconverted into usable form by folding the extension portions inwardly upon the inner surfaces of their walls and providing interlocking ortions for securing the walls together.

T e invention further consists in the provision of interlocking tabs or ortions on the folded extensions, each to project behind-the next adjacent folded extension to lock these extensions in folded position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide the ends of the folded-over side portions withspaced upper and lower tabs and over which the end extension is folded and to provide tabs on the end extensions to project behind the folded side extensions to lockthe corners of the extension together.

With these'and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction and operation 'set forth in the following specification and illustrated in `the accompanying drawings. A

Fig. 1V is a perspective view of completely folded box sections made according to my present invention, the cover member fitting over the body member.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a box section in flat form as cut from sheet stock.

Fig. 3 is a perspectiveview showingone end of the box section in partly folded position. l

. Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing one end l of the box member as completely folded and the tabs of the end and side wall extensions inter-locked' one with the other.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental sectionof the folded corner of the box member showing the tabs on the folded end extensions as proJecting beh ind the edge of the folded side wall extensions. Fig. 6 is a fragmental view showing the folded end wall extension of the cover as engaging the end wall of the body'with a yielding pressure.

It is found in practice of advantage to provide a box of foldable material such as paper, cardboard, or other suitable material, which can be shipped flat or partly folded and when completely folded will have both side and end walls of double thickness, the inwardlyfoldable extensions of each wall being provided with cooperating interlocking tabs or members, those of one extension being arl' ranged to project behind the other folded-over extension to lock all of the walls in folded position, whereby the boxmembers may be against relinquishment; and the following is a detailed description of the present embodiment of my invention and showing one construction of box by which these advantageous results `may be accomplished. p

With reference to the drawings, aA blank preferably of heavy and foldable material such as cardboard or the like, as shown in F 2, is employed for formin either the bo y or the cover portion of ,a folding box, the two being formed substantially the same and adaptedto telescope one with the other. In either. of these box members, portion 10 indicates theside walls thereof as having a foldable extension' 11 attached to its outeredge. This foldable extension'is herein shownas being provided with' edge tabs 12 and 13 spaced apart and that portion between these tabs as being out or notched as at 14 for the purpose presently described.

The end walls 15 of this box portion are also provided with extension members 16,

which causes their spaced tabs 12 and 13 to lieagainst the inwardly-folded cornerilaps 18. Then as the end extension 16 is folded inwardly it .overlies these tabs 12 and 13 and the tabs 17 on these end extensions are caused by inherent resiliency of the stock to snap into the corresponding recesses 14 in the side extensions 11 and then extend inback of these extension 4as entering the space between the 'pifyed at the the folded extensions thereby securely locking 'both the extension 11 and the extensions 16 and 13 as connected to the end of the side wall extension and the' flap 1'( on the end wall tabs 12 and 13, but it is evident lthat the arrangement of these tabs may be reversed if desired, and'that any number or arrangement of tabs may be employed either on the end extension or on the side extension and that these tabs may extend behind the adjacent edge of the extension to securely lock thesecorner's together, or on the side extension and that these tabs may extend behind the adjacent edge of the other` extension to securely lock these corners together, or in some cases where a plurality of these tabs are employed the tabs on one of the laps may abut against the edge of the cut-out portion ofthe adj acentextension instead of extending behind it, if. desired.

It is evident that where the tab 13 is emupper edge of the extension an vparticularly t e tab 12' at the lower edge of the extension over both of which the adjacent end extension is folded that these tabs serve to securely lock both the upper andlower edge portions of their foldedextension thereby permitting the use of a very deep box and also a box of very thin material, which wouldq not be the case if the lower tab 12 were omitted. l'

I do not desire to berestricted to the use of a air of spaced tabs on the edge of one of olded extensionsas in some cases it is found that a single tab near the lower edge of. each of the folded extensions interlocked with the adjacent extension will serve to retain the walls in locked position;

My im roved folding box is very strong and durable and by its construction may be shipped in a lmock-down or flat form or in semi-folded conditionVA and may be folded or assembled by unskilled help and upon being folded the tabs arevarranged to snap into position to securely lock the walls against separation.

It is found in practice that in somejnstances the-lower edge 20 of the folded over side wallextension 11 may be cemented to its outer wall leaving an Vuncemented portion which is notched as at 14 between the inner andbuter layers between which the flap 17 ina extend to lock the walls of the boxtotion fromv the outer wall portion to facilitate entrance of the ilapl( to the space beadjacent folded-over extension to lock said l extension portions in Afolded position.

2. .A folding box member having side walls and end walls, an inwardly-foldable extension portion on each of said walls, the adjacent edges of each extension having cooperating alternately-arranged interlocking members, those of one extension ortion projccting behind the edge of the adjacent folded-over extension portion to lock said extension portions in folded. position.A

` 3. A folding box member having side wallsl and end walls, an inwardly-foldable extension-portion on each of said walls,`the edges of each extension portion having a tab, cooperating with the adjacent extension portion and extending behind the adjacent extension portion to secure the extension portionsinfolded osition.

4. A folding x member having side walls and end walls, an inwardl -foldable extension portion on each of sai walls, the edges of each extension portion'having a cooperating tab adjacent its lower edge, cooperating with the adjacent extension portion and projecting behind the next adjacent extension portion to lock the whole together. j l

' 5. A folding box member having side walls and end walls, each having an inwardly foldable extension portion, apair of spaced tabson the ends of one extension, a singletab on the adjacent edge ofthe otherv extension positioned to enter thev space' betweenV said pair, the tabs of each extension-engaging the stock of the other extension to lock them both in folded'position. v l

6. A folding box member having side walls and end walls each having an inwardly-foldable extension portion, a'pair of spaced tabs on the edge of one extension, a single tab on the adjacent edges of the other extensionpositioned to enter the space between said pair, the tabs of cach extension projecting behind the folded stock of the other extension to lockthem both in folded position.

7. A folding box member comprising end walls each havingA an extension folded inwardly to form adouble thickness, the edge of said extension having a locking tab, side lll Walls eachalso having an inwardly-folded extension, a pair of spaced tabs on this side j extension positioned to straddle the ytab on j extension to lock both extenslons in folded position. Y

8. Al folding box member comprisin end walls having extensions folded inwar ly to form a double thickness, the edges of each of said extensions having a lock tab, side walls each also having an inwardly-folded extension, a pair of spaced tabs on the side wall positioned to straddle the tab on the adjacent edge of the end 'wall extension, the tabs on one extension projecting behind the foldedover extension of the other wall to lock the extensions in folded position. j

9. A. foldin box member having Vfoldable side walls wit notched extensions, said extensions having upper and lower lock tabs on either side of said notch, end walls also having an inwardly-foldable extension,.a lock ab on the edge of said extension arranged to extend into said notch and behind said side extension when both of said extensions are folded to lock the whole together.

10. A folding box member having side walls and end walls each having an inwardly foldable extension, one of said extensions being notched and the other cooperating extension having a projection and being distortable to permit said projection to enter into said notch and extend behind the folded extension to lock the box in folded position.

11. A folding box member having side walls and end walls each having an inwardly foldable extension, -the side wall extension being notched at its ends, locking projections on the folded end wall extensions positioned to enter said notches/and project behind the side wall extensions, and means on the lower edge of the side wall extensions cooperating with the end wall extensions to lock the side wall extensions.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

HOWARD s. soIoLEs. 

